Improvement in burial-caskets



)0; F. SPENCER;

B-URIAL CASKET.

Patented April 17, 1877.

WH fin I \w W W imnmmumm ai /wile 517/ H- PETERSA PHOTO IMPROVEMENT |but?IAIQC ASKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. iSiSfiS), dated April l7,

1868; a plication tiled March 22, 1877.

To all whom it ma/y concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. SPENCER, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and .State of New York, have invented certain tion of a sliding dead-board, upon which the corpse is placed, said dead-board being provided with a cover or door, with a packing around its edge, which can be secured tightly against the open end of the casket, when the dead-board carrying the corpse is in place, by means of a screw-bolt, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In caskets of this class, as heretofore constructed, the top is usually left open for the insertion of the corpse, and the cover is secured thereon by means of screws. The cover extending the whole length of the casket makes it diificult to tightly secure it, owing to the extent of the joint-surface; and one object of my invention is obviate this extended joint by making the opening for the insertion of the corpse at the end instead of the top of the casket.

Another object of my invention is to provide a convenient dead-board, upon which the corpse can be laid out preparatory to being placed in the casket, which can be inserted with the corpse into the casket, and secured therein by closing the casket.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a vertical section between the end of the casket and the head of the eadboard, and Fig. 4 a view of the dead-board with the sides turned down.

In the drawing, the letter A represents a rectangular casket, of wood, metal, or other suitable material, which is made perfectly tight, except at one end, which is left open for the reception of the corpse. The letter B represents a dead-board, which is preferably constructed with hinged sides 0, which can be folded up when the board is inserted in the casket, forming side linings for the same. The board and folding sides are covered with any suitable ornamental cloth, such as usually employed for the linings of coffins and burialcaskets. At the front end or head of the board is secured an upright head-piece, D, of such size as to neatly fit within the open end of the casket when the dead-board is fully inserted therein. At each side of the casket are formed recesses E, which are just outside of the outer face of the head-board when the dead-board is fully inserted in the casket, and. the head-board is provided at each side with pivoted pawls F F, which can be so situated with respect to the recesses E in the sides of the casket that they may be set so as to clear the sides of the casket as the dead-board is being inserted, and will fall by their own weight, and enter the recesses when the said dead-board is fully inserted, and confine the same permanently in place.

The letter G represents a cover adapted to fit upon and close the open end of the casket.

It is provided with an elastic packing, H, of

rubber or other suitable material, on the inside, around its edges, and is secured to the head-board D by means of a screw-bolt, D, extending through an aperture in the center of said cover, the said bolt being provided with an ornamental head, 1, and hand-levers J, for turning it on the outside,the face of the shoulder formedby said head being provided with an elastic gasket or packing, L, for the purpose. of making an air-tight joint with the cover.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The corpse being placed upon the central part of the dead-board, and the hinged sides being folded up into a vertical position, the whole isinserted in the casket, the pawls E being elevated, so as to clear the sides of the casket to allow the headboard to enter. After the dead-board is fully inserted the pawls drop by their own weight, securely fastening the dead-board within thecasket. The cover G is then secured tightly against the open end of the casket by means of the screw-bolt D, hermetically' sealing the casket, and making it perfectly air-tight. p

1. The combination, with a coffin having an open end, as described, of the dead-board B, constructed with hinged sides 0, and having the pivoted pawls F, adapted to recesses in the coffin-body, for confining the dead-board in position, substantially as described.

2. In combination with the dead-board, adapted to be secured in the casket, as described, the cover and screw-bolt for confining the same against the openend of the casket, for the purpose of hermetically closing the casket, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing witnesses. I

v v v CHAS. F. SPENCER. Witnesses: Y

CHAS. 'S. BAKER,

J. H. JEFFBES. 

